Army 5 & 10 man arctic tents

[woodstove]

Hello!! I have been looking at US Army 5 & 10 man arctic tents with the new SHA tent heater. Anyway I am wondering if anyone uses, has, or has used recreationally or in the service and the opinions they have of them.
many thanks!

 

[IA Woodsman]

I have spent many nights in a 5 man. Very nice. But we used wood stoves.

 

[theDuck]

I have the 5 man tent. I had it set up in my backyard last winter for 3 months. It held up well. Towards spring when it rained the wet did not soak through the whole thing. It did wick into the liner a foot or so at some of the points where the liner attached.
My 10"x10"x22" wood stove kept it heated. I'd have to keep knocking the snow off it and having to shovel it away from the sides.
They are HEAVY. 55 pounds just the tent and liner. Throw in the pole, pegs ( snow pegs are steel) and pack and it is up to 85 pounds. You car camp or toboggan it. You would use it for a group outing so someone else can drag it while others drag the other equipment. They are also a cave inside as any military tent is so some source of light is always needed.
My boss used to be in armour and used them in the Canadian Forces. They were heated with a Coleman lantern. Sometimes the trooper on watch would fill the lantern inside the tent instead of outside. A flare up would set the tent on fire and they go up fast. Every excercise they burned one down and lost all the tent contents. They are no more flamable that other tents. They burned because of careless, overtired troops.
In winter they should camp and sleep 3 very comfortably. I use my army cot in mine.
The pole can be a pain to erect. It is a 3 section extendable type. I drilled mine in the extended position and made 3/8" steel pins to hold it up. It is a much more solid arrangement then. I made a wood base to put the pole in. I cut some long poles to hang it from to eliminate the centre pole for more room but haven't tried it out yet.
In short, I like mine.

 

[woodstove]

I have the 5 man tent. I had it set up in my backyard last winter for 3 months. It held up well. Towards spring when it rained the wet did not soak through the whole thing. It did wick into the liner a foot or so at some of the points where the liner attached.
My 10"x10"x22" wood stove kept it heated. I'd have to keep knocking the snow off it and having to shovel it away from the sides.
They are HEAVY. 55 pounds just the tent and liner. Throw in the pole, pegs ( snow pegs are steel) and pack and it is up to 85 pounds. You car camp or toboggan it. You would use it for a group outing so someone else can drag it while others drag the other equipment. They are also a cave inside as any military tent is so some source of light is always needed.
My boss used to be in armour and used them in the Canadian Forces. They were heated with a Coleman lantern. Sometimes the trooper on watch would fill the lantern inside the tent instead of outside. A flare up would set the tent on fire and they go up fast. Every excercise they burned one down and lost all the tent contents. They are no more flamable that other tents. They burned because of careless, overtired troops.
In winter they should camp and sleep 3 very comfortably. I use my army cot in mine.
The pole can be a pain to erect. It is a 3 section extendable type. I drilled mine in the extended position and made 3/8" steel pins to hold it up. It is a much more solid arrangement then. I made a wood base to put the pole in. I cut some long poles to hang it from to eliminate the centre pole for more room but haven't tried it out yet.
In short, I like mine.

Thanks man good info, good to hear they can weather the rain too! That thought was on my mind. I knew they are heavy, car camping only or dragging in a sled. I just thought they might be better than a normal wall tent as they would be lighter, less exspensive, and the pyramid shape keep it heated easier using less fuel.

 

[JOttum]

I spent many nights sleeping in a 10 man while stationed in Alaska. It will be big nd heavy. we used all 9 guys in the squad to set it up. Everyone had their job. We would tramp down snow with our snow shoes on in a big circle first, then bring in the tent. when the tent was up we would use pine boughs for the flooring, makeing sure tent and liner flaps were all tucked out. In your bag, if a fire started you drilled to just get in and roll towards a tent side on roll under and out. We also brought out a fire extinguisher and kept it in next to the center pole just in case. We used the Yukon stoves with mogas to heat them, these stoves could also burn wood. We used an "Ahkio" or pulk to transport ours.